.আদিবাসী সমাজের এই মূল সমস্যাবলী এখনো চরিত্রগতভাবে একই রয়ে গেছে......এখনো পুঁজির সর্বগ্রাসী কর্তৃত্ববাদী আক্রমণ, প্রগতি - উন্নয়ণ - শিল্পায়নের ধুয়ো তুলে, এই মানুষগুলোর উপরেই নেমে আসে.....মুনাফার জাঁতাকলে পিষ্ঠ হয় তাদের অস্তিত্ব....তাই এর বিরুদ্ধে আজও দেশের আনাচে কানাচে প্রাথমিকভাবে এই মানুষগুলোই প্রতিরোধ সংগ্রাম গড়ে তুলছে...

Biplab Bhattacharya

25 mins

আজ হুল দিবস.....সারা ভারত জুড়েই, বিশেষত:পূর্বীয় রাজ্যগুলোতে; শুধুমাত্র সাঁওতাল নয়, বিভিন্ন আদিবাসীরাই এই দিনটিকে অত্যন্ত শ্রদ্ধার সঙ্গে পালন করে আসছে....
সাঁওতাল বিদ্রোহকে একদিক থেকে দেখতে গেলে, ভারতবর্ষের বুকে প্রথম গণ অভ্যুত্থান হিসাবে দেখা যেতে পারে.....একটা পর্যায়ে প্রায় ৩০ হাজার মানুষের এক বাহিনী ইংরেজদের ঘুম কেড়ে নিতে সক্ষম হয়েছিল....ইতিহাস তাদের জন্য জয়ীর মুকুট রাখতে পারেনি, কিন্তু এই বিদ্রোহের সাথে যদি গ্রামসমাজের অন্যান্য শ্রেণী ও স্তরের মানুষ সঙ্গবদ্ধ হতে পারতো, তাহলে ভারতের ইতিহাসে "স্বাধীনতা" শব্দটা অনেক আগেই ঢুকে যেতো.....
এই লড়াইয়ের ভিত্তিভূমি ছিলো জল, জঙ্গল, জীবিকার উপরে গণ মানুষের অধিকার কায়েমের সংগ্রাম.....স্বাধিকার, স্বাধীনতা আর ইজ্জতের লড়াই......আদিবাসী সমাজের এই মূল সমস্যাবলী এখনো চরিত্রগতভাবে একই রয়ে গেছে......এখনো পুঁজির সর্বগ্রাসী কর্তৃত্ববাদী আক্রমণ, প্রগতি - উন্নয়ণ - শিল্পায়নের ধুয়ো তুলে, এই মানুষগুলোর উপরেই নেমে আসে.....মুনাফার জাঁতাকলে পিষ্ঠ হয় তাদের অস্তিত্ব....তাই এর বিরুদ্ধে আজও দেশের আনাচে কানাচে প্রাথমিকভাবে এই মানুষগুলোই প্রতিরোধ সংগ্রাম গড়ে তুলছে...

এই প্রতিরোধেরই এক টুকরো ছবি আমার সাথীদের জন্য...........

gaon chodab nahi (we will not leave our village)

The song describes the present day exploitation of tribal land and forests in the name of development.

YOUTUBE.COM

इस सारी फेहरिस्त में सोनिया गांधी भी क्यों चुप हैं?

Dayanand Pandey

48 mins · 

बताईए भला ललित मोदी की नाव पर सवार हो कर सुषमा स्वराज और वसुंधरा राजे निरंतर डगमगा रही हैं। स्मृति ईरानी भी अपनी डिग्री को ले कर लगातार उलझती जा रही हैं । उधर महाराष्ट्र में पंकजा मुंडे भी भ्रष्टाचार की लहरों पर सवार हो कर लहरा रही हैं। और तमाम हो -हल्ले के बावजूद नरेंद्र मोदी चुप हैं । नरेंद्र मोदी का नया नामकरण भी कर दिया जयराम रमेश ने कल और मौननेंद्र कहा । यह भी सब गुड है। पर इस सारी फेहरिस्त में सोनिया गांधी भी क्यों चुप हैं। चलिए कांग्रेस पार्टी की कमांडर है, सो ऐन मौके पर ही बोलेंगी। लेकिन राहुल गांधी भी सिरे से क्यों चुप हैं ? कहीं लुक भी नहीं हो रहे हैं । न चीख़-पुकार मचा रहे हैं , न कोई कागज़ पत्तर फाड़-फूड़ रहे हैं। नरेंद्र मोदी से इन मुद्दों पर न बोलने का हिसाब तो लेना लाजिमी है ही पर राहुल गांधी के न बोलने , न लुक होने पर भी हिसाब नहीं मांग लेना चाहिए ? मनो कि पूछ रहे हैं ! कहां हैं कम से कम यह ही बता दिया जाए ! कि यह बार-बार अंतर्ध्यान होने की बीमारी अब नियमित हो गई है ?

हम, भारत के लोग, भारत को एक संपूर्ण प्रभुत्वसंपन्न समाजवादी धर्मनिरपेक्ष लोकतंत्रात्मक गणराज्य बनाने के लिए... WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC...

Reyazul Haque

June 29 at 11:52pm · 

हम, भारत के लोग, भारत को एक संपूर्ण प्रभुत्वसंपन्न समाजवादी धर्मनिरपेक्ष लोकतंत्रात्मक गणराज्य बनाने के लिए...

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC...

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The Modi govt is anti-poor and anti-farmer: RSS ideologue KN Govindacharya

PANINI ANAND@paninianand|30 June 2015

The opinion

• Narendra Modi came to power promising 'Achhe din'. Former RSS ideologue Govindacharya gives his take on Modi's performance so far.

• He believes 3 sections supported Modi in the elections: core RSS supporters, those upset with the UPA, and the youth.

• This is a historic opportunity as it is the first time a non-Congress leader has won such a majority.

The performance

• Under Modi, the party has become personality centric. Institutions and ideology are being neglected.

• BJP has compromised on its core issues like Ram Mandir. It isn't doing enough for cow protection and cleaning up Ganga.

• Why is there a greater urgency in aligning with PDP than on abrogating Article 370?

• Even on foreign policy there has been little consistency.

The priorities

• Modi government seems more keen on pushing a pro-corporate agenda than addressing the problems of the poor.

• It is going against farmers by amending land acquisition Bill and pushing for GM foods.

• Rather than smart cities and bullet trains, the priority should be on intervening in favour of have-nots.

More in the story

• Criticism of Modi's policies on land, seeds, environment, labour reforms, rural migration, and foreign policy.

At a time when very few people in the BJP and the larger Sangh Parivar are willing to speak out, former RSS ideologue KN Govindacharya doesn't pull any punches.

He has many critical positions against the Narendra Modi government - especially on land, environment, labour reforms, GM crops, crony capitalism, the Make in India initiative and obsession with first world economies.

Many of the core issues he would like Prime Minister Modi to pursue are themselves contentious and debatable. However, his views are a window into what many in the RSS feel but do not voice.

In an interview, Govindacharya discusses various aspects of the Modi government, offering some criticism, a little praise and a lot of advice.

PA: BJP promised 'Achhe Din' during the election campaign. Now, everybody is evaluating whether this promise has been fulfilled. Congress says the Modi government has failed. Barring a few voices of dissent, BJP and RSS are hailing Narendra Modi. What is your take?

KG: It is the first time since Independence that a non-Congress leader has come to power with such a thumping majority. This landslide victory was a result of three kinds of voters rallying behind Modi. 

Out of roughly 31% vote share of BJP, 10% are hardcore RSS supporters. 

Another 10% were disgruntled with the previous government. These voters were not particularly inclined towards the party. Yet, they saw a ray of hope in Modi. The slogan of 'Achhe Din' found resonance with this voter. 

The third section is the youth. They hoped for better employment opportunities. The issue of black money also attracted them. We can say, the youth too was enticed by this slogan.

This government was formed when these three sections came together to exalt Modi. It is more of a Modi government than a BJP government.

PA: Has the organisation been overshadowed by personalities in the BJP?

KG: See, there are two things here. First, centralisation of power and over-dependence on the bureaucracy. 

Second, organisation taking a backseat in governance. Power comes and goes but the weakening of party institutions is more worrisome. Especially for a party which claims that it doesn't hanker for power. 

Today, one doesn't even know who the BJP's office-bearers are. Only the president of the party is known, that too for obvious reasons.

No one knows who BJP office-bearers are. Only the party chief is known

There is no vigour in party agitations. The constitution of the party has no provision for e-membership. It should have been ratified by the National Council of the party. But that did not happen. Every institution in the BJP - working committees, national council, office-bearers - have been marginalised.

PA: Isn't the BJP president known mainly because of the Prime Minister?

KG: The president has no separate existence. This has been one of the reasons for the marginalisation of the party. The situation has come to such a pass because there are no deliberations on such matters in the party.

As far as the achievements of the government are concerned, I think the intentions are right. However, we need to wait for tangible results. About two-third of BJP supporters still look up to Modi. They still hope for 'Achhe Din'. But about a third of the traditional voters are despondent. 

Take the example of Ram Janmabhoomi. The government does not seem to be as keen on this issue as it is on amending the land acquisition legislation.

BJP was in a hurry to form a government with PDP in Jammu and Kashmir but nobody spares a thought for Article 370.

The matter of cow slaughter is also on the back-burner. If they can't stop it altogether, they can at least ban the export of beef. However, beef exports have increased from Rs 22,000 crore per annum to Rs 26,000 crore per annum.

The Prime Minister stresses on the need for protecting cows. However, what will happen to them if they are not taken to the slaughter houses? There is no clear plan for their rearing.

In countries like US and Brazil, cows are treated as mere milk-producing machines. Dairies and slaughter houses are integrated there and the old cows are meant only for slaughtering. However, this is against Indian values. We do not accept this approach towards cows.

PA: You are saying that BJP has gone back on its core issues. What about the new slogans that have been coined?

KG: The policy of distracting people can't go on for long. Soon, people will begin to call your bluff. Take, for example, the issue of Ganga. Everybody agrees it has to be cleaned. The government has expressed the same sentiment. 

However, if you look at it logically, Ganga can only be clean if its flow is uninterrupted. How can this be achieved if there are big dams? The government must ensure the ecological flow of Ganga.

The government does not have a clear stand on this matter. To work superficially on this issue would be a grave injustice to Ganga. People will not tolerate this attitude towards the holiest river in the country.

Everybody believes that this government wants to make a positive change. But it has no clear direction. People have started viewing it as an anti-poor, anti-people government.

The main purpose of the state is to empower the destitute. However, the opposite is happening now

Detractors say it is working against the farmers and does not believe in communication. The perception is gaining ground that it is pro-rich and pro-US. 

The focus of the government is on smart cities, bullet trains and land acquisition. Its idea of development seems to be copied from the countries like the US, Argentina and Brazil. It wants big farms and slaughter houses.

The World Bank says it wants 40 crore farmers out of agriculture sector by the year 2020. The government seems to agree with this idea.

In fact, they are publicising 'Make in India' for the same purpose. 'Make in India' would be of little use unless it is transformed into 'Made by India' or 'Made for India'. 

As of now, 'Make in India' is nothing more than an open invitation to foreigners to loot the country. The current course would be suicidal for the country. It will not strengthen India's industrial muscle. We need to increase manufacturing capacity on our own.

PA: What about foreign policy? Surely that has been an area of success for the Modi government?

KG: Let us discuss foreign policy now. Narendra Modi can be deemed as the most active prime minister in this regard. However, merely visiting other countries, making speeches, and clicking selfies is of little use. 

This government started its diplomatic charm-offensive by offering an olive branch to Nawaz Sharif. Look, what is the state of Indo-Pak relations today?

Hurriyat and Pakistan flags are being waved in Kashmir. Who knows by next Independence Day, the clamour for Azadi will reach its peak and people would be seen burning the Indian flag in the Valley.

Much is left unsaid in diplomacy. Myanmar saved India's face after the cross-border operation. Otherwise India had come out looking like an aggressor. This can lead to many difficulties in the international arena. 

India risks isolation, if it is seen as a regional bully. India needs finesse in its' foreign policy.

Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the banks of Sabarmati was a great Kodak moment. What was the ultimate result?

India, Japan and Australia are forging a strategic alliance at the behest of the US. However, this could antagonise China, Africa, Islamic countries along with some European nations. India's foreign policy must be centred around its core national interests. We should not ignore the eastern countries.

PA: The Sangh Parivar has always portrayed America as a 'demon', be it in the context of foreign goods or genetically modified seeds. How do you see the government's economic policies in this respect?

KG: There are two schools of thought in this country. One believes in the devolution of power and economy. It says nobody should be compelled to migrate for a living. This is the 'Swadeshi' model.

To uproot 40 crore farmers and compensate them is a model imported from the US and Brazil. Huge farms, dairies and slaughter houses is essentially a foreign idea. Cattle in every village household, an integrated approach towards agriculture and animal husbandry - this is the decentralised Indian approach.

The government has forgotten two basic facts. They believe small farms are not viable. This can be refuted scientifically. 

Second, ending self-reliance in agriculture and hampering food security will have dire consequences.

Framing agriculture policy and acquiring land at the cost of food security would be counter-productive. Providing safe drinking water and empowering the families should be our priority.

However, policy makers seem to cheer rural migration when it should have been a cause of concern to them.

The promotion of GM is ruining the indigenous seed bank and is one of the biggest hurdles in making farming profitable.

The Indian ideology has three basic tenets- Ram, Rashtra and Roti. Ram is a symbol of spiritual values as well as the Ram Temple agitation. He epitomises national sovereignty. The complete silence on the issue of Ram Temple reflects government's priorities.

The government must encourage an environment of dialogue in the country. Monologues aren't going to work

Instead of bullet trains, the government's priority should be providing water in unreserved coaches. 

According to the Indian model of development, smart cities should after the provision of safe-drinking water to 238 arsenic and fluoride affected villages of the country. As of now, rich are reaping the benefits and poor are being lured by empty promises.

The main purpose of the state is to empower the destitute. However, the opposite is happening. 

Forces of anarchy will stand to gain if the state is perceived as ineffective. The democratic process and the path of development would be endangered, if there is no course-correction.

PA: The government has a huge majority so what is the compulsion?

KG: I don't believe that the government has any compulsion. I do not doubt Modi's intentions. However, his priorities smack of neo-colonialism.

PA: What is the cause of disquiet among several MPs, ministers, the Margadarshak Mandal and Sangh-affiliated bodies like Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh?

KG: Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh and Bhartiya Kisan Sangh represent the economic thought of the RSS.

The Swadeshi Jagran Manch is disappointed because the government is going ahead with FDI in the retail sector.

BMS workers can see how labour reforms are against the interests of the working class. The contract labourers are being exploited. There is no parity between work and the wages. They are miffed at these basic issues.

Similarly, Bhartiya Kisan Sangh is at a loss to explain the haste in bringing an ordinance on land acquisition. Its content is a matter of separate debate. 

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad is asking what has the government done on the Ram Temple? This is the sentiment among the most committed cadres of the BJP. They worked hard for the party's victory and are now finding it hard to give answers in their constituencies. This is not a good sign.

You mentioned the Margadarshak Mandal, all Murli Manohar Joshi ji has said is that the ecological flow of the Ganga must be ensured. He is right in saying so, because Ganga can't be revived unless this happens. The government must not obstruct the flow of the Ganga.

The environment ministry says forget about forests, let there be land for humans first. But five crore landless labourers don't have any shelter. You should have given them the possession of land. Nothing of this sort is happening. If the government's image has taken a beating, then who else is to be blamed?

Most sectors are infested with crony capitalism. It is the responsibility of the government to intervene in favour of the have-nots. However, the government seems to be reneging on this commitment.

PA: Several questions have been raised over the choice of central ministers. The government is neither following the party line, nor the agenda of the Sangh. What is the reason for this?

KG: They are groping in the dark due to lack of ideological commitment. However, trust and dialogue are the fundamental premise of any organisation.

BJP's core supporters are a product of the same organisational culture. Today, they are silent and insecure. Speaking your mind is prohibited in the party. This cannot be good for any government or organisation.

PA: But what has tied the hands of the RSS?

KG: Sangh has its own character. It works for the party in the national interest. They came out in open support during the last general elections. I don't think it was a right thing to do. 

However, their style is to go back to the pavilion after the elections are over. RSS thinks Swayamsevaks working in the party should put the house in order. The onus to reform the party is on them.

Only 15% of the Sangh works actively in the party. Rest of them sit pretty at home after ensuring victory in the elections. But they have to face tough questions from the public. This section is the first one to get frustrated. It can't understand its role after the elections.

The govt is only thinking of taking land. Nobody speaks about distributing it to the needy

The Sangh ideology also says that only a person who has his boots on ground can understand the real situation.

This demands patience from the Sangh Swayamsevaks. Sometimes, this attitude worsens the situation to a point of no-return. Its also affects the election results. 

However, the most important thing is that the ideal of Ram, Rashtra and Roti is damaged. Organisations will come and go but this is the cause of real concern for the nation.

PA: There is no dearth of leaders in the BJP who make communal statements. Doesn't it reflect the hardline Hindutva nature of the party?

KG: Such statements are like the Myanmar faux pas. They remind me of a saying, 'befriend a fool and suffer a thousand falls'. It is always better to speak less in politics. 

Once the Sangh Parivar plays an active role in elections, it cannot escape hard questions. Then, the statements by the Sangh leaders will also be identified with the government. 

Therefore, there is a need to rethink the concept of inter-dependability within the Sangh Parivar.

PA: How can Modi overcome this crisis?

KG: Sometimes it's good to tread slowly. If the direction is right, there is nothing wrong in getting a little lost. Politics is a marathon. More than speed, It requires stamina. 

Therefore, dialogue, trust, decentralisation and participation are paramount. The government must encourage an environment of dialogue in the country. Monologues aren't going to work.

BMS workers can see how the govt's labour reforms are against the interests of the working class

The government still has four years to deliver. It is for the first time after Independence that a non-Congress leader has won such a huge majority. This experiment must not fail. 

It is the responsibility of the whole Sangh Parivar. Within the Sangh Parivar, it is the BJP which has to shoulder this burden and among them, the prime minister has to take the responsibility. 

I bear no ill-will towards Modi. He is an old friend of mine. I want him to succeed but he needs more sagacity.

PA: Is any scope of ideology left in the BJP, especially when they have Ram Vilas Paswan as well as PDP as their allies and nothing stops them from making more political compromises?

KG: With such a huge majority, BJP must come out of this alliance mentality. It should move ahead firmly on its ideological path. The party is still not out of the election mode. Just forming governments is not enough. The need of the hour is to work with the confidence of a government that has a full majority.

PANINI ANAND@paninianand

Senior Assistant Editor at Catch, Panini is a poet, singer, cook, painter, commentator, tr...

http://www.catchnews.com/politics-news/the-modi-govt-is-anti-poor-and-anti-farmer-rss-ideologue-kn-govindacharya-1435605921.html

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America's New $1 Trillion Fighter Jet Can't Outmaneuver The Plane It's Replacing The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, which through its history has cost more than $1 trillion, just received a scathing review from one of its test pilots.

America's New $1 Trillion Fighter Jet Can't Outmaneuver The Plane It's Replacing

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THELIBERTARIANREPUBLIC.COM|BY AUSTIN PETERSEN

अरुंधति राय अपने बेबाक और तार्किक लेखन से 'वाद-विवाद-संवाद' की बौद्धिक परम्परा को अक्सर संवर्धित करती रहती हैं. डॉ.आंबेडकर की पुस्तक 'Annihilation of caste ' की 'The Doctor and the Saint ' शीर्षक से उन्होंने जो भूमिका लिखी थी उस पर चल रहा विवाद इधर फिर गर्माया है. राजमोहन गांधी ने EPW के11अप्रैल के अंक में प्रकाशित अपने लेख में अरुंधति राय द्वारा लिखित इस भूमिका से अपनी तीखी असहमति अभिव्यक्त की थी. अब अरुंधति राय ने EPW के 20 जून के अंक में इसका विंदुवार विचारोत्तेजक जवाब दिया है.

Virendra Yadav

4 hrs · Edited · 

अरुंधति राय अपने बेबाक और तार्किक लेखन से 'वाद-विवाद-संवाद' की बौद्धिक परम्परा को अक्सर संवर्धित करती रहती हैं. डॉ.आंबेडकर की पुस्तक 'Annihilation of caste ' की 'The Doctor and the Saint ' शीर्षक से उन्होंने जो भूमिका लिखी थी उस पर चल रहा विवाद इधर फिर गर्माया है. राजमोहन गांधी ने EPW के11अप्रैल के अंक में प्रकाशित अपने लेख में अरुंधति राय द्वारा लिखित इस भूमिका से अपनी तीखी असहमति अभिव्यक्त की थी. अब अरुंधति राय ने EPW के 20 जून के अंक में इसका विंदुवार विचारोत्तेजक जवाब दिया है. इसे धैर्य के साथ पढ़ा जाना चाहिए. हिन्दी के बुद्धिजीवियों को भी इससे यह सीखना चाहिए कि असहमति के स्वरों से तार्किक संवाद किया जाय ना कि 'शूट दि मेसेंजर' की तर्ज़ पर उनकी आवाज़ को दबाने की चुप्पा षड्यंत्रकारी मुहिम रची जाय. फिलहाल संग्लन है यहाँ अरुंधति राय के लेख का लिंक.http://www.epw.in/discussion/all-worlds-half-built-dam.html.l.

All the World's a Half-Built Dam | Economic and Political Weekly

It has taken me a while to respond to Rajmohan Gandhi's long critique1 of "The Doctor and the Saint."2 I thought at first that a close reading of my essay would contain the answers to the questions...

EPW.IN

अंग्रेजों ने हमे मानसिक और आर्थिक रूप से गुलाम बनाये रखने के लिए कुछ शैतानी रवायतें रख छोड़ी हैं , जिनमे कोका कोला , अंग्रेजी , क्रिकेट और युद्धोन्माद प्रमुख हैं ।

Rajiv Nayan Bahuguna Bahuguna

June 29 at 

1:58pm · Edited · 

जब मैं क्रिकेट को अवांछित , मनहूस , बनावटी और सट्टे बाज़ी की जड़ बताते हुए कोई पोस्ट लिखता हूँ , तो बड़ी चिल्ल पों मचती है । अब जबकि इस खेल से जुड़ा सरगना लन्दन में बैठ कईयों के मुंह पर कालिख पोत रहा है और कईयों को नकटा बना चूका तो सब सुट्ट हैं । मैं पुनः दोहराता हूँ कि गुलामी और सट्टे बाज़ी के प्रतीक इस ना मुराद खेल पर पाबन्दी लगे । इसे खेलने वालों को सात साल तथा देखने वालों पर 2 साल की सज़ा का प्रावधान हो । कबड्डी , खो खो , हॉकी तथा फुटबॉल जैसे इंडिजिनस खेलों को बढ़ावा मिले । अंग्रेजों ने हमे मानसिक और आर्थिक रूप से गुलाम बनाये रखने के लिए कुछ शैतानी रवायतें रख छोड़ी हैं , जिनमे कोका कोला , अंग्रेजी , क्रिकेट और युद्धोन्माद प्रमुख हैं ।

Amit Shah says 'Hindu dharma' has 'solution' to all the problems of world. What a wonderful statement by a 'statesman' who should have been probed by the police but is now under heavy police protection. Yes, Hindu dharma has solution to the 'world' problem but not the 'Indian' 'problems'.

Vidya Bhushan Rawat

June 29 at 2:25pm ·  · 

Amit Shah says 'Hindu dharma' has 'solution' to all the problems of world. What a wonderful statement by a 'statesman' who should have been probed by the police but is now under heavy police protection. Yes, Hindu dharma has solution to the 'world' problem but not the 'Indian' 'problems'. Yes, it is unable to get out of the caste mind set. Except that it continue to treat people of particular communities in great contempt and look down upon them as untouchable. Yes, Hindu Dharma could not resolve the 'problem' of manual scavenging. The problem with Hindu Dharma is that they never consider caste as a problem or manual scavenging as a problem when their leaders say that it gives people 'spiritual' 'satisfaction' when they scavenge. So when all the problems that we considers as problems of India are not even considered problems of India by the Hindutva's 'statesman' there is absolutely no doubt that Hindudom has 'solution' to world 'problems' except problem created by its own brahmanical philosophy.

'Hindu Religion Has Solution to All Problems in the World,' Says BJP Chief Amit Shah

Addressing audience at a book launch at Gujarat University convention, BJP chief Amit Shah on Sunday said that "Hindu religion has solutions for all problems in...

NDTV.COM

এক সেকেন্ডেই ৩৩টি এইচডি মুভি ডাউনলোড

এক সেকেন্ডেই ৩৩টি এইচডি মুভি ডাউনলোড
www.prothom-alo.com/technology/article/566185

এক সেকেন্ডেই ৩৩টি এইচডি মুভি ডাউনলোড

এখন একটি এইচডি মুভি ডাউনলোড করতে প্রায় এক ঘণ্টারও বেশি সময় লাগে। তাহলে ৩৩টি মুভি ডাউনলোড করতে কত সময় লাগবে? হুয়াউয়ের নতুন উদ্ভাবিত ব্রডব্যান্ড পদ্ধতিতে ৩৩টি এইচডি বা হাইডেফিনেশন মুভি ডাউনলোড করতে সময় লাগবে মাত্র এক সেকেন্ড। যুক্তরাজ্যের ডেইলি স্টারের এক...

PROTHOM-ALO.COM

"It is a reflection of our indigenous capabilities and a proud moment for all of us that our country has achieved such a status that we can build all kind of warships in India itself," the vice admiral said.

"It is a reflection of our indigenous capabilities and a proud moment for all of us that our country has achieved such a status that we can build all kind of warships in India itself," the vice admiral said.

Navy's 48 warships being built indigenously: Vice Admiral P Murugesan

These 48 ships being manufactured for the Indian Navy include aircraft carriers, frigates, destroyers, submarines, corvettes and fast attack crafts.

ECONOMICTIMES.INDIATIMES.COM

Dalits Media Watch-News Updates 30.06.15.Killed for Talking to Upper Caste Girl? Clues on Engineer's Death in CCTV Footage-

Dalits Media Watch

News Updates 30.06.15

Killed for Talking to Upper Caste Girl? Clues on Engineer's Death in CCTV Footage- NDTV

http://www.ndtv.com/tamil-nadu-news/killed-for-talking-to-upper-caste-girl-clues-on-engineers-death-in-cctv-footage-776655

Minor girl brutally gang-raped in UP's Badaun- Zee News

http://zeenews.india.com/news/uttar-pradesh/minor-girl-brutally-gang-raped-in-ups-badaun_1622300.html

19-year-old Dalit boy found hanging from tree in Punjab; 5 booked- Zee News

http://zeenews.india.com/news/punjab/19-year-old-dalit-boy-found-hanging-from-tree-in-punjab-5-booked_1622045.html

 'Board goofed up SC pupils' IIT eligibility scores'- The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Board-goofed-up-SC-pupils-IIT-eligibility-scores/articleshow/47873153.cms

Mob fury shows loss of faith in police- The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Mob-fury-shows-loss-of-faith-in-police/articleshow/47871735.cms#write

Lack of diversity - Bollywood films are all about upper-caste Hindu heroes- Quartz

http://qz.com/439701/bollywood-films-are-all-about-upper-caste-hindu-heroes/

Panel takes cognisance of misuse of Acts safeguarding rights of SC/STs- The Hindu

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/panel-takes-cognisance-of-misuse-of-acts-safeguarding-rights-of-scsts/article7368889.ece?ref=tpnews

Sec 377 of IPC that criminalises gay sex may be scrapped: Gowda- The Hindustan Times

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/section-377-of-ipc-that-criminalises-gay-sex-may-be-scrapped-sadananda-gowda/article1-1364324.aspx

Dark clouds hover over monsoon session - Day After

http://www.dayafterindia.com/detail.php?headline=content&catid=8021

Please Watch :

Dalit MLA alleged he was discriminated by upper caste colleagues and Officers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZKTN4KkXZA

 

Note: Please find attachment for DMW Hindi (PDF) 

NDTV

Killed for Talking to Upper Caste Girl? Clues on Engineer's Death in CCTV Footage

http://www.ndtv.com/tamil-nadu-news/killed-for-talking-to-upper-caste-girl-clues-on-engineers-death-in-cctv-footage-776655

 

Tamil Nadu | Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Updated: June 30, 2015 10:58 IST

 

Chennai:  A young engineer in Tamil Nadu, who was found dead on railway tracks last Wednesday, is seen being dragged away by a group of men in CCTV footage retrieved by the police.

The gang is seen taking away 21-year-old Gokulraj while he was speaking to a girl in their village in Namakkal district. His family alleges that he was kidnapped by a local leader, Yuvaraj, and killed over his relationship with the girl, who belongs to an upper caste family.

Gokulraj's family has refused to accept his body unless the police change the case of suicide they had filed last week to murder.

The police are looking for Yuvaraj, who heads the Dheeran Chinnamalai Peravai - a fringe outfit that champions the cause of the Kongu Vellalar, a backward caste community.

A case of kidnapping and suspicious death was registered last week after the police found a note from the engineer's pocket, which indicated a failed affair.

In 2013, a Dalit man, Ilavarasan, was found dead on the railway tracks in Dharmapuri district in the state a day after his wife refused to return to him citing continuing clashes between both communities and memories of her father. Ilavarasan had married a woman from the higher Vanniyar community which led to her father committing suicide. This had triggered riots against Dalits - around 250 Dalit homes were set on fire. The police said Ilavarasan's death was a case of suicide and not murder.

Recently, the Kongu Vellalar community in the same Namakkal district hounded Tamil writer Perumal Murugan claiming his book "Madhorubagan" defamed their women and temple festival. Under tremendous pressure and coercion, the writer ultimately withdrew all his books and writings and shifted base to Chennai.

 

Zee News

Minor girl brutally gang-raped in UP's Badaun

http://zeenews.india.com/news/uttar-pradesh/minor-girl-brutally-gang-raped-in-ups-badaun_1622300.html

 

Last Updated: Tuesday, June 30, 2015 - 09:42

 

Lucknow: It seems even death sentence has failed to infuse fear in the perverted minds of rapists.

 

In a grim reminder of the 2012 Delhi gang-rape and 'Gudiya' rape case, yet another horrific incident of a 14-year-old girl being gang-raped by three youths from Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district has come to light.

 

The incident happened when the minor girl had gone to a nearby shop to purchase something. She was lured by one of the accused, who lives in the neighbourhood, on the pretext that somebody was waiting for her around the corner.

 

However, when the 14-year-old went there, she was gagged by three men and taken to a nearby field, where they sexually assaulted her.

 

Initially the girl didn't inform anybody from her family, but few days later broke down before one of her cousins, following which a rape case was registered by the police.

 

Medical examination has confirmed sexual assault of the girl, besides severe injuries on her private parts.

 

Some reports say that a small wooden stick, match box and plastic was found inside her private part.

 

DIG, Bareilly zone, RKS Rathore said the probe is underway on the basis of details provided by the victim.

 

A 23-year-old paramedic, on the night of December 16, 2012, was brutally assaulted and gang-raped by six persons in a moving bus in South Delhi. Her male friend was also thrashed by the six accused.

 

The accused had later thrown both of them out of the vehicle, without clothes, to die by the roadside on the cold December night.

 

The victim`s 28-year-old friend had suffered fractures in his limbs. The girl succumbed to her injuries on December 29 in a Singapore hospital.

 

In a similar incident, five-year-old 'Gudiya' was brutally raped on April 15, 2013 in a building in east Delhi`s Gandhi Nagar locality.

 

Zee News

19-year-old Dalit boy found hanging from tree in Punjab; 5 booked

http://zeenews.india.com/news/punjab/19-year-old-dalit-boy-found-hanging-from-tree-in-punjab-5-booked_1622045.html

 

Last Updated: Monday, June 29, 2015 - 17:37

 

Faridkot: A 19-year-old Dalit boy was found hanging from a tree at Punjab's Kharavillage following which five persons, including two panchayat members, were booked for the alleged murder, police said on Monday.

 

Body of the deceased was found hanging yesterday from the tree in the village here, they said.

 

The youth had eloped with a farmer's minor daughter, who was also from the same village, on the intervening night of June 20-21, police said.

 

Family members of the boy has alleged that the youth was killed by the girl's family, they said.

 

Police today booked five persons, including family members of the girl and two panchayat members.

 

All the accused are absconding and hunt in on to nab them, police said.

 

PTI

 

The Times Of India

'Board goofed up SC pupils' IIT eligibility scores'

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Board-goofed-up-SC-pupils-IIT-eligibility-scores/articleshow/47873153.cms

 

TNN | Jun 30, 2015, 03.12 AM IST

 

MUMBAI: Even as CBSE is still to announce the ranks for JEE (Main) Paper-I and Paper-II, some of the state boards are partly to be blamed for the delay. While a few boards delayed submitting their results data, some others sent incomplete information. Officials from the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) claimed that Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education goofed up in compiling the scores of students from the scheduled castes (SC).

The IITs' data on eligibility scores of Maharashtra board's SC students based on their Class XII performance was left blank since June 24.

After qualifying in JEE (Advanced) for admissions to IITs, students also have to fall in the Top 20 percentile of their respective boards or score above 75% in their Class XII exams. CBSE got a revised list from the state for SC students in the weekend.

G Mhamane, the state board chairperson, though, said the list was sent to CBSE much in advance and that he will have to look into the alleged discrepancy.

 

The Times Of India

Mob fury shows loss of faith in police

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Mob-fury-shows-loss-of-faith-in-police/articleshow/47871735.cms#write

 

Sayantanee Choudhury,TNN | Jun 30, 2015, 12.12 AM IST

 

PATNA: The growing mob fury across the state leading to lynching of any person in connection with any offence indicates that common people are gradually losing faith in the police administration gradually.

The lynching of a private school director, Devendra Prasad Singh, in Nalanda district on Sunday following protests against the death of two students was not the first incident of its kind in recent times in Bihar. In May this year, a woman was forced to get down from an auto and then beaten to death at Katesar market area under Bihta police station in Patna district. Three women were arrested in this connection. The woman was thrashed on the road but no onlooker came forward to her rescue. She became the target of mob fury as she and her husband were made accused for the murder of a local boy.

Hetukar Jha, a noted sociologist, said, "Sociologically we believe that people of south Bihar are by nature aggressive and the Nalanda incident was triggered by that cultural attribute. The mob that kills a person for some presumed offence without legal authority is fully aware of violation of law. The mob outrage takes place when people start following one man and at the same time lose faith in the existing system. At that time, they do not want any different point of view giving leeway to the alleged accused."

In June 2014, two dalit students awaiting their Class 10 results were lynched at Baikanthpur under Bakhtiarpur PS in Patna on suspicion that they were thieves. Police made 20 persons of the village as named accused.

In October 2014, four men were arrested from the office of minor irrigation resources department for manhandling a government official. The four men had beaten up Narayan Paswan, chief engineer of the department, over allotment of a tender. The incident took place at Visveswaraiya Bhavan located on Bailey Road. In 1993, the then Khagaria MP, Ram Sharan Yadav, had beaten up the then health commissioner, T C A Srinivas Ramanujan, at his official chamber. Again, in 2001, the then transport secretary, N K Sinha, was manhandled by the then CM Rabri Devi's brother and controversial RJD MLA Sadhu Yadav.

 

Quartz

Lack of diversity - Bollywood films are all about upper-caste Hindu heroes

http://qz.com/439701/bollywood-films-are-all-about-upper-caste-hindu-heroes/

 

Shelly Walia

 

A recent Bollywood flick, Dil Dhadakne Do, deals with the life of super-richPunjabi Indians and their first-world problems.

 

High on picturesque offshore beauty, this Zoya Akhtar-directed movie was described by critics as "shallow" and so far removed from India's third-world reality that it is "difficult to give a damn about the people in the film."

 

But, dismissing all such reviews, the filmmaker in a recent interview said that "the Indian audience doesn't want to watch poor people."

 

Whether that's true or not is hard to say, but India's popular film industry definitely does not celebrate diversity—and not just in terms of class, but also caste, religion and gender.

 

A recent analysis of lead characters of more than 250 films released in 2013 and 2014 by The Hindu newspaper revealed that only six lead characters belonged to a backward caste. The Indian national daily collected information available publicly on characters as well as the storyline of each of these films for its report.

 

According to Box Office India, an online film database, 184 films were released in 2013 and another 201 films in 2014. So, the Hindu's analysis covers about 65% of the combined Bollywood films released in two years.

 

In 2014, the films that dwelled upon caste were Manjunath, a real-life account of an Indian Oil employee who was murdered for speaking out against a corrupt oil dealer; Highway, which showcased a distraught criminal from the Gujjar community; and the biopic on India's pugilist Mary Kom whose lead character was a member of the Kom tribal community from Manipur.

 

In 2013, too, Bollywood had a total of three characters from backward castes. The films were Bandook, the story of a lower caste man's rise to political power, Kangana Ranaut's Revolver Rani, and Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela.

 

Looking beyond Hindus

The most common character in Hindi films is also a Hindu, according to the Hindu report. Only very few roles are written keeping in mind a Christian, Muslim or Sikh.

 

 In 2014, only two films had lead characters who were Christian, three had Sikhs and nine had Muslims (including the critically-acclaimed Indian adaptation of Hamlet, Haider). Meanwhile, as many as 66 lead characters were upper caste Hindus, while the rest were Hindus whose caste was not mentioned or was unknown.

 

In India, according to the religion census of 2011, Hindus comprise 78% of the total population, followed by Muslims at 14.2%. Sikhs and Christians are about 2% of the population.

 

Evergreen sexism

Apart from this low representation of caste, class and religion, there's another category where Bollywood lags behind: Gender.

 

For decades now, male stars get screen time and lengthy monologues, while women are cast for item numbers in skimpy clothes.

 

In a gender test of last year's blockbuster films, nine out of ten movies failed by a long shot. Only one movie passed what is known as the Bechdel test—that a film casts at least two women, incorporates a scene or two where they interact with each other, and they talk about something besides a man.

 

However, in the recent years, some filmmakers have invested in strong female characters, and it's a formula that has worked. In fact, the first—and so far, the only—film to make Rs100 crore ($16 million) at the box office in India in 2015 was led by Kangana Ranaut, a female star.

 

The Hindu

Panel takes cognisance of misuse of Acts safeguarding rights of SC/STs

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/panel-takes-cognisance-of-misuse-of-acts-safeguarding-rights-of-scsts/article7368889.ece?ref=tpnews

 

Special Correspondent

 

The monitoring committee for implementation of PCR (Prevention of Civil Rights) Act and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, has detected alleged extortion of large-scale farmers by a group in the district through alleged misuse of the provisions of the Acts.

 

Taking cognisance of complaints from cultivators employing farm labourers belonging to Scheduled Caste that a group has been provoking the workers into revolting against their employers and creating unnecessary complications in the otherwise harmonious relationship, the Committee headed by District Collector S. Prabakar confirmed two instances of extortion.

The committee that also includes members of non-government organisations working for the cause of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes finds itself constrained to step in as the Police Department is helpless when a case is preferred under the two Acts.

 

The committee is vested with the responsibility of ensuring effective implementation of the Acts and prevention of atrocities against the SCs, STs and other vulnerable sections of society.

 

As per rule, the Police Department has to invariably register the First Information Report as and when it receives a complaint of atrocity. Hence, a sense of fear prevails even among senior police officials. They are helpless since they fear that the gang indulging in extortion would file a private complaint against them as well, Subi Thalapathi, representative of Thadapalli-Arakankottai Ayacut Farmers' Association said.

 

Mr. Thalapathi cited a recent instance of the gang prevailing upon a worker to file a case under the Acts against a cultivator and later prevailing upon the complainant to withdraw the case after extorting Rs. 2 lakh.

 

While safeguarding the rights of SCs and STs, the committee has decided to act tough against those misusing the provisions. "If unwanted complaints are filed with wrong intentions, the committee will initiate stringent action against the complainant," the District Collector warned.

 

The Hindustan Times

Sec 377 of IPC that criminalises gay sex may be scrapped: Gowda

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/section-377-of-ipc-that-criminalises-gay-sex-may-be-scrapped-sadananda-gowda/article1-1364324.aspx

 

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

 

Updated: Jun 30, 2015 12:00 IST

 

India could abolish Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalises gay liaisons and the legalisation of same-sex marriages could be considered, Union law minister DV Sadananda Gowda has said.

 
However, any such move will require wide-ranging consultations, he said. A recent legislation on the rights of transgender people could provide a model for India's gay community, he added.

 
"The mood appears to be in favour of it. But it can be done only after widespread consultations and taking all views into account," Gowda was quoted as saying by The Economic Times.

 

Gowda was speaking in the context of the US Supreme Court's historic verdict last week that legalised same-sex unions and the positive reception to the ruling on social media in India.

Gowda, later, denied the charges, adding that he was "misquoted".

Referring to a private member's bill on the rights of transgender people, Gowda said it could be a model for the gay community. After several years of delay, the bill moved in the Rajya Sabha by Tiruchi Siva of the DMK received overwhelming response, he said.

 
"That bill has been passed by the Rajya Sabha (in April) and everyone supported it. If that bill is passed by the Lok Sabha and becomes an act, Section 377 will become irrelevant," Gowda said. 

 
The report described Gowda's views as a "radical position for a politician" from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district as the coastal belt is known for conservative social mores. The region is a stronghold of the Sangh Parivar, which has "strong and negative views" on homosexuality, it said.

 
In December 2013, the Supreme Court overturned a Delhi high court verdict that had set aside Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a law framed in 1860.

 
The apex court put the ball in the government's court for decriminalising consensual sex among homosexuals, arguing it was free to annul the law through legislation.

 
The high court had ruled in 2009 that Sec 377 was unconstitutional.

 
However, Gowda's minister's interpretation of the fallout of the legislation on transgender people appeared to be somewhat off the mark. Tiruchi Siva said he had limited his bill to the educational, economic, employment and health rights of transgender people.

 

"The bill does not talk about Section 377 or anything other than the rights of transgenders," he said. "I am always optimistic that rights of others will also get due importance."

 

Siva's bill is being pushed by three Lok Sabha members – Shobha Karandlaje of BJP, NK Premachandran of Revolutionary Socialist Party and Baijayant Panda of Biju Janata Dal. Karandlaje and Premachandran said Section 377 and gay rights was not on their radar.

 

They said they wanted to help transgender people but frown on lumping them together with lesbians, gays and bisexuals through the acronym LGBT.

 
"There is no question of (Section) 377 in our bill. I have very different views on unnatural sex. It is a totally different matter. I only want transgenders to get their rights and be treated on a par with others in the society," said Premachandran, the MP from Kollam in Kerala.

 

Panda said Section 377 was tangential to the bill though conferences were being lined up on legal and legislative action on the matter. Echoing Gowda, he said: "It is time for the debate on (Section) 377 to reflect what the Constitution guarantees for every Indian — which is equality."

 

He also said the private member's bill on transgender people may become infructuous as the government is thinking of bringing in a similar bill.

 

Day After

Dark clouds hover over monsoon session

http://www.dayafterindia.com/detail.php?headline=content&catid=8021

 

BY HARBANS SINGH

 

The best of plans can often go awry. The ruling BJP and the NDA government have realized that their overwhelming superiority in numbers in the Lok Sabha amounts to naught when unforeseen winds hit the sails.

 

On the other side of the fence, the numerically sparse Congress has realized that its best laid out plans for revival of fortunes may have to be put on hold because of bounties by default.

 

Thus, the BJP that was looking forward to having the amendments to the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, the Railways (Amendment) Bill, the Waterways Bill, the GST Bill, the amendments to the land acquisition Bill, Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill and Benami Transactions (Prohibition) amendment Bill, 2015, passed, will now be fending against the onslaught of the opposition over issues that were nowhere on the horizon only a few weeks away. Now the ruling dispensation will have to summon all its persuasive skills to get the pending bills passed.

 

The Congress plan

On the other hand, the Congress, looking to secure Dalit support before it eyes a revival in fortunes, was planning to take up the issue of pending bills related to the empowerment and reservation of SCs and STs to corner the NDA government in the Monsoon session of Parliament, which begins next month. Now, both the ruling coalition and the opposition is busy formulating a strategy to control the damage while brazing out the storm and sticking as much mud on the hitherto fair image of the year old government.

 

Sources within the Congress party say that the party is geared to raise the issue of the non-passage of bills like the Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill, 2012, that aims to provide quota in promotions, a Bill to provide legislative framework for reservation and another to amend and strengthen the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989. "We will build pressure on the government to ensure that it introduces these three Bills - which are pending for a long time - in the Monsoon session. Enactment of the Bills will go a long way in ensuring justice for the Dalits," a party functionary said speaking on condition of anonymity. Congress has realized that in the recent decades it has lost support of the Dalit classes and that unless it recovers lost ground the revival of fortunes would remain a pipedream. The championing of these bills would have the Congress' way of saying that it wants to reach out to Dalits and other deprived sections in a big way. It would be recalled that Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on June 2 flagged off the national launch of the party's commemoration of the 125th anniversary celebrations of Dalit icon BR Ambedkar at the latter's birthplace in Mhow of Madhya Pradesh.

 

Earlier, the Congress President Sonia Gandhi had on June 1 written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi slamming his government for allowing an ordinance to lapse which was aimed at strengthening the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the previous UPA government had in March last year cleared the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Ordinance making penal provisions more stringent to deter people committing crimes against members of Dalit communities. The Ordinance had proposed that common crimes like rape, assault and kidnapping should also be brought under the purview of this Act. "Even as Standing Committee recommended for bringing amendments to the 1989 Act and gave its report way back in December, 2014, the NDA government did not bring a Bill on it in the Budget session. Our party will take up the matter when Monsoon session of Parliament convenes," the functionary said.

 

Pitching for bringing the bill to amend the 1989 Act, Sonia Gandhi had said that it was a "matter of disappointment" that NDA government "allowed the ordinance to lapse" by sending it to the Standing Committee. The other one, the Constitution amendment (117) bill providing for quota for SCs and STs in government job promotions was passed by Rajya Sabha with an overwhelming vote of 206 in the 245-member House in December 2012, when UPA was in power. However, it could not be passed by the Lok Sabha.

 

Samjawadi Party and Shiv Sena had opposed it. The third bill that the Congress wants Government to bring in Parliament is aimed at providing a legislative framework to reservation in employment and education. So far reservation in jobs and education is provided through an executive order for a period of ten years, which are extended from time to time.

 

The manifesto for Dalit empowerment prepared by the party ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls will serve as a guiding principle for the Congress in future course of action more so when Rahul Gandhi is increasingly taking up a lead role in the party. The last Lok Sabha polls saw caste barriers breaking in key states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where a sizeable section of Dalits voted for BJP. In UP, the drift of Dalit votes to BJP has served as a warning signal for Congress. The community did not favour Congress even after Gandhi's visits to and his taking of meals at Dalit homes. The Congress believes that BSP's hold over Dalits has loosened considerably in states other than Uttar Pradesh and they are still not strongly behind BJP. In such a situation, increasing their focus on Dalit issues can help them get back their "traditional Dalit support", Congress leaders feel.

 

BJP runs into rough weather

Meanwhile, the government had embarked on an extensive exercise to prepare a heavy legislative agenda for the monsoon session of Parliament next month but the events of the past few weeks has cast a dark shadow over the planning. But even as the Congress has threatened a washout of the session if Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje do not resign over the Lalit Modi episode, the think tank of the BJP is chalking out a strategy so that the party can brazen out the woes it is facing.

 

Media sources affirm that Afzal Amanullah, Secretary, Parliamentary Affairs, has written to Secretaries in all ministries, asking them to "urgently" specify bills and other items of government business proposed by each ministry for the upcoming session. A comprehensive list of 65 bills pending in both houses of Parliament from the last session - 12 in the Lok Sabha and as many as 53 in the Rajya Sabha, where the government is in a minority - was attached to the letter for the perusal of the ministries. The letter is said to have specified that the standing committees have submitted their reports in 34 such bills, while 18 bills, including the Land Acquisition Bill, are pending with standing or joint committees. "Since the ministries are interacting with the standing committees, you would be in a position to identify the bills pending with the standing committees which are likely to be ready for consideration and passage in the next session. You may like to appraise this ministry of the same," Amanullah said in the June 11 letter.

 

Sullied image of BJP?

The monsoon session of Parliament is all set to begin on July 21, but it will be a truncated three-week affair.

 

The earlier proposal was to commence the session from July 20, a Monday. But as Eid may fall on July 18 or 19, a decision was taken to start it from July 21. But the session is likely to be stormy as the opposition has found potent ammunition in the form of what has come to be known as Lalitgate. At first it was thought that it would only singe Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj but the opposition now finds in the happy position of nettin the Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

 

But as if it was not enough for the Congress to warn that the session could be in jeopardy if External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia were not made to resign on the Lalit Modi row, more trouble has mounted for the ruling from some unexpected quarters. A Delhi court has ruled that the complaint against Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani regarding her claims to a degree in her affidavit before the Election Commission is maintainable, in Maharashtra the young minister Pankaja Munde has been accused of mastering a Rs. 200 crore scam. Thus four leaders of BJP, representing a cross section of the society have fallen in the line of some serious fire from the Congress.

 

While the Lalit Modi controversy is likely to devour a few more victims, Smriti Irani may not be able to escape the wrath of law and the people particularly after the manner in which Jitender Singh Tomar, former Law Minister of Delhi's AAP government was exposed and arrested. After adopted holier than thou attitude, the BJP can hardly apply double standards in case of Irani. But it is the Lalitgate that is going to threaten the monsoon session. Born out of the politics of cash rich BCCI and the cosy club of the IPL, it is likely to ensnare a few more names.

 

After a year in office, of which tall claims of probity have been made, the BJP finds itself in the unenviable position of having two of its stalwart leaders helping a person wanted by the investigating agencies for financial misdemeanor. Both, Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje appear to have gained benefits for their family members by being a 'friend' of Lalit Modi. The Congress is not going to let go of the quid pro quo angle in the 'friendly' and 'humanitarian' help rendered to Modi.

 

The contentious Bills

In addition, there are the issues of the Bills, particularly the amendments to the land acquisition act and the GST Bill. To be fair to the Congress and the other opposition parties opposing the land acquisition's proposed new law, it must be said that the attitude of the BJP has been baffling. After supporting the new law in 2013 it inexplicably had a rethink soon after coming to power. Not surprisingly, many believe it was at the behest of land sharks and corporate sector. There is little doubt that the BJP will have to make necessary changes to the amended proposal if it wants to get it passed smoothly. As far as GST is concerned then that is another matter.

 

This was a Bill that UPA government wanted passed but the BJP had opposed it tooth and nail. Today the Congress is using the very same arguments that BJP used to stall it. But since all observers believe that the Congress is not as destructive as the BJP therefore it will finally allow it to pass if only because it was its own brain child.

 

But the real issue now is not whether the BJP can evolve a bi-partisan approach while dealing with opposition.

 

The question is that will the parliament function this monsoon session? Judging by the hard stances adopted by both the parties the danger of the session becoming a complete washout is real. The Home Minister has declared that the NDA ministers will not resign since this was not a UPA government. This puzzling response had to be followed by a clarification from another senior minister Ravi Prasad but both have only added to the ire of the Congress.

 

The Congress and the UPA had lost a number of ministers because of scams and serious allegations as the BJP stalled the parliament in the absence of any action. The Congress feels that now is the time to seek revenge and it is unlikely that the two senior BJP leaders will be allowed to hold office for long. But if the BJP rides the storm by using its majority then it would not only have lost its moral sheen but also encouraged those who thrive in flirting with wrongdoings. As it is, the accusations against the BJP governments are rising by the day with another bright face in Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan facing serious corruption charges.

 

In the midst of it all, many discontented leaders have begun to find their voices. Old warhorses, L.K.Advani and Murali Manohar Joshi have already embarrassed the government and now leaders like Kirti Azad and R.K.Singh have also lent their voice. Moreover, could Yashwant Sinha have dared to make 'brain dead' comment a year ago? Indeed the clouds are gathering.

 

 

News Monitored by Girish Pant & AJEET

.Arun Khote
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")

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Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and  intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space with the Dalit perspective in the mainstream media national/ International on Dalit issues is primary objective of the PMARC.